MCS Beachwatch manager to meet with global clean up bosses

It’s the first time in more than five years that all the world’s beach clean coordinators have got together. We’ll be finding out exactly what we are all doing in citizen science beach cleaning and our collaborative efforts on worldwide litter as part of the ICC.

Lauren Eyles,
MSC Beachwatch Manager

Lauren Eyles, the MCS Beachwatch Manager, is also the UK’s ICC Coordinator. Lauren looks after the MCS Great British Beach Clean event which takes place every year on the third weekend in September. Similar events take place over the same weekend in hundreds of countries worldwide. The data from participating countries is crunched by the ICC to give a global snapshot of beach litter.

The symposium, held in San Diego, will reflect on the global achievements of the ICC and look at how it will move forward in a world that is now far more aware of ocean plastic pollution than it’s ever been before.
Coordinators will share their experiences and discus how cleanups have influenced global efforts to prevent plastic pollution.

One of the key areas for discussion will look at data collection and how it can be improved and turned into policy and campaign successes.

Lauren Eyles, MCS Beachwatch Manager and UK ICC Coordinator, says she’s keen to meet with colleagues from across the planet: “It’s the first time in more than five years that all the world’s beach clean coordinators have got together. We’ll be finding out exactly what we are all doing in citizen science beach cleaning and our collaborative efforts on worldwide litter as part of the ICC.

“I have been the UK coordinator for over 7 years, so for me, this is a career highlight. Some colleagues who will be there I know already so it will be lovely to see them and catch up. But for many I haven’t even heard of who they are, let alone what they are doing – so meeting them will be really exciting and undoubtedly benefit what we do here in the UK.

“This is a great time as there is a huge increase and momentum around litter which will accelerate meaningful discussions, share knowledge and learning from each other. I’m also hoping it will increase opportunities to link up with a wider network and work together. I don’t know what has made the world stop and listen…my feeling is it can’t be Blue Planet 2 alone but whatever it is, I like it!

“San Diego has some amazing marine wildlife, and isn’t far from the intriguing Sea of Cortez and Gulf of California where the giant squid lives. All this wont be too far away from where we’ll all be sitting and discussing how to secure the future of ocean inhabitants by reducing litter! This event has never been so important.”

The Great British Beach Clean 2018 – part of the International Coastal Cleanup – takes place across the UK on the 14th- 17th September. You can sign up to events near you via our Beachwatch pages - https://www.mcsuk.org/beachwatch/